Service Layer in Wireless Sensor Networks

Service Layer in Wireless Sensor Networks

The primary objective of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is not to transport data, rather to observe and possibly control their sensing environment for as long as possible. The use of a data aware Service Layer middleware in such networks increases the level of abstraction with which an application can interact with the underlying WSN.

The objective of this proposal is to design and develop a Service Layer for the following-
Hexa-X / Hexa-X-II use case family: Hyper-connected resilient network infrastructures
Specific use case: Low power micro-networks
Research challenge: Network of networks
Targeted domain: Customized cloud based AI-enabled E2E solutions for low cost, low power, low data rate, non time-critical WSN applications

Description:
Micro-networks consisting of devices with different capabilities, but performing identical measurement tasks over a given area, can be connected together to form a network of networks. These micro networks should be in geographical proximity, but can support devices from different manufacturers, and support different IoT protocols. By means of a generic service API, they can collaborate and share data in a common format, to form a network of scalable (micro) networks.

This Service Layer should-
1. interact equally well with complex and simple protocol stacks
2. take advantage of the fact that the sensor data will be correlated in space and time, by using WSN design principles of local data aggregation,
in-network processing, edge computing, etc
3. allow the WSN to strike an effective balance between power consumption, message latency and efficient utilisation of network bandwidth
4. be flexible enough to allow the integration of devices supporting even the simplest IoT protocol stacks into a cost efficient, cloud based
E2E solution
5. be able to use AI to maximise the utility of data collected from very low power, low cost WSNs constrained by resource and energy requirements

SMEs and organisations interested in IoT related R&D activities / software solutions

Role of AI in - a) reducing the cost of wireless sensor network deployment and maintenance, b) extracting higher level features from raw sensor data